Egg-crate.



No. 898,007. PATENTED SEPT. 8, 1908.

1). M. ROWE.

' EGG CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.21,1907.

w dwwooeo UNITED STATS PATENT FFICE.

DAVID M. ROWE, OF OGLESBY, ILLINOIS.

nee-snare.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 8, 1908.

Application filed March 21, 1907. Serial No. 363,625.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID M. Rows, a

citizen of the United States, residing at .eggsmay be securely held and prevented from being broken during shipment, or from rough handling of the crate.

With this object in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be more fully described and iarticularly pointed out in the appended c aims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of an egg crate constructed and arranged in accordance with the invention; and showing the door or cover of the crate removed; Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the same; Fig. 3 is a vertical, sectional view through a portion of one of the egg trays and one of the egg holding springs thereon; Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of one of the eg holding springs; Fi 5 is a plan view of the stamped-out blan. from which the spring is formed; and Fig; 6 is a pore ective view ofa modified form of the egg olding spring.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 denotes thecrate, which is preferably in the form of a closed box or casing constructed of any suitable material and may be in any desired shape, the same being here shown as constructed of wood, and in rectangular form. Adapted to be arranged in the crate, 1, is a series of e g holding trays, 2, on

which are secured egg olding springs, 3,- the number of which may be varied according to the size of the trays and crate.

The springs 3 are preferably formed from a single piece of spring metal, and are stamped out of said metal by suitable dies,- and consist of a series of spring metal arms, oriingers 4, which roject in opposite directions at diametrical y opposite points from a circular center piece or base 5. After the springs have thus been stamped out to form the arms or fingers, 4, said arms are bent upwardly around a suitable egg shaped mold or form, by means of which t ey are curved or bent first outwardly and then inwardly at their upper ends so that together they form an egg shaped frame or receptacle. The extreme upper ends of the arms 4 are bent outwardly so as to facilitate the engagement of the eggs with the same, said arms being forced outwardly by the pressure of the egg pushed between them to permit the egg to pass into "the outwardly curved lower portions of the same, after which the spring action'of the arms will cause them to close to' ether, and fit snugly around. the egg, thus 'rmly holding the same against movement when the crate is handled.-

I .The trays 2 may be of any suitable con struction and formed of any suitable material, said trays are preferably in the form of thin fiat boards or sheet metal plates. The egg holding springs are secured to one side of said trays by means of screws, 6, or other fastening devices, which are passed through centrally disposed openings formed in the base portion of the springs, asshown. On the base portion 5 of the springs are secured suitable pads, 7, said pads being preferably in the form of circular disks of felt, and are held in place by the screws or fastening devices, 6, which secure the sprin s to the tray. There may be any desired num er of springs arranged on the trays, said number varying with the size of the tray. The crates, 1, may

.be formed of'any desired size to hold any number of trays, 2, said trays being arranged one above the other in the crate, the upper outwardly curved ends of the spring arms or fingers 4 serving as supports for the next tray above. The trays are adapted to be inserted in and removed from the crate through an opening in one side thereof, which is adapted to be closed by a suitable door or cover, not shown.-

In Fig. 6 of the drawings is shown a modifled form of the e g holding spring, the same being shown in t liS instance as constructed from two strips of metal, each of which is stamped out to form a pair of o positely projecting s ring holding arms or a centre base portion, 9. The arms 8 are adapted to be bent u wardly and shaped in the same manner as escribed in connection with the first form of springs. The base portion, 9, is provided with a central screw hole, ld which, when the arms are arranged in pogers, 8, and

sition to form the egg receptacle, will. be alined and through said alined holes, 10, is adapted to be inserted a fastening screw to secure saidsprings to the tra a From the foregoing description, taken in connection with-the accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the invention may be readily understood without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the prin ciple or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention as de ed in the appended claims.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is:

1. An egg crate comprising a box or casing, a series of trays arranged therein, sprin holding devices arranged on said trays, sai devices comprising an apertured base portion, a series of integrally formed upwardly rejecting spring metal holding arms, circuar ads arranged in the base of said devices,

an screws adapted to be inserted through said pads and the base portion of the egg holding devices to secure the latter to the trays, substantially as described,

2. In an egg crate, a series of trays, a series of egg holding devices, said devices compriscurved supporting fingers on the upper ends of said arms to support the next tray above, and pads arrange on said late and secured by said fastening means, su stanti-ally as described.

egg holding devices arranged on said trays,

said devices compr1sing an apertured base portion, aseries of integrally formed upwardly pro 'ecting spring metal egg holding arms bent to t an egg, said arms being bent outwardly at their next tray above, circular pads arranged on the base of said devices, and screws ada ted to be inserted through said pads and the ase portion of said egg holding devices to secure the "same to the trays, substantially as described.

upper ends to form supports for the 3. An egg crate comprising a box or cas- I mg, a series of trays arranged therem, spring In testimony whereof I have hereunto 'set I my hand in presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

- DAVID MLROWE Witnesses: I

JAS. W, Krnn,

Trros. .A. KIDD. 

